I walked to the table and grabbed the three stone, sapphire ring engraved in a diamond frame. I brought the beautiful blue ring close to my eye to see it well.

"No..." My eyes twitched as I scanned the beautiful sapphire ring's intricate curves and cuts. A vibrant shade of blue, so lively and elegant, like the water glistening in the ocean and the sparkling diamond frame that cupped it, was in the end...stained with a violet dot, which won't be noticeable unless looked so closely.

I felt my head spin as I got the shock of my life," Edwin...Edwin killed..." I couldn't hold back tears. The purple droplet stain on the edge of the ring was making me feel sick. It was...blood indeed. That was why his ring was missing from his finger for a few days. He was probably trying to get the blood off.

I can't take it anymore.

"Even tears won't come out." I shouted at myself," You're so pathetic to hope he wasn't the one who did it! Look at him living his life happily after doing that to Ethan!"

"Gwen?" Edwin asked as he woke up from my shouting. My blood was boiling even hearing him say my name.

"You fucking murderer!" I shouted and grabbed his collar," I'm going to fucking kill you!"

"What are you on about?" He asked, throwing me off the couch, on the floor. He held his head, trying to get to his senses. He was too drunk. He didn't even realize how much force he used to push me.

I fell hard on my shoulder. All I could feel at that moment was pain.

"You killed Ethan...tell me why...WHY?" I sobbed quietly sitting on the floor when I started running out of breath. I wasn't carrying my anxiety pills. I was trying to take deep breaths but I felt a throbbing pain in my chest and my lungs wouldn't intake oxygen. I felt my ribs cracking inside as I fell face-first on the cold floor.

The world's spinning...maybe I'm coming to you soon Ethan and...and I hope no one saves me tonight.

Elijah

I was scared to death. Was I going to lose her?

Hospital-

"Are you the patient's guardian?"

"Yes."

"Then please sign here. Thank you."

"How much time until she wakes up?"

"Her condition is a bit serious so anytime between 2 days."

"Alright, thank you. My son and I are sitting on that bench so please call us if there's anything."

Two days. How much longer do we have to wait until she wakes up fine?

"What are you thinking?" Dad patted my back as he walked back from the reception and sat down beside me.

"Everything. It's unexpected. Back then, how we found the two of them completely devastated and how all this is coming to an end." I said.

"You believe this is the end?" He chuckled and then sighed," We have a long way to go. The lawsuit is going to take ages, especially when his millionaire dad's got money to feed the judges, I doubt we'll ever win."

"If you knew this, why did you even try to solve the case?" I asked.

"I solved this case hoping it wasn't one of them and also...for Ethan. For his desperation. Even if we can't get Edwin Miler behind the bars, at least Ethan will be able to rest." He said.

"I hate to agree with you, dad. but I did this for Ethan's rest too." I said.

"We do have strong evidence though. The pictures in her phone showing how they left the crime scene uncleaned and prevented investigation and the ring, although we still await the DNA reports. But I'm certain Edwin's going to confess his crime because of what he said earlier when we broke into the Mansion." He said and I remembered the whole scene once again.

__

5 hours ago-

It was my first time inside that dreadful Mansion. It's walls were hiding filthy secrets.

I asked two of the cops to check Ethan's room on the second floor and try breaking open the lock before I made my way into the hall to look for Gwen and the moment I spotted her, I shouted in fear," Gwen!"

She was collapsed on the floor. Not even a strand of hair was moving. And next to her was Edwin, sitting on the couch, staring blankly at his feet.

"What did you do to her?!" I yelled at him as I ran up to her and shook her," Wake up! Gwen, please wake up!" I looked around. The medical team was nowhere to be seen and the cops were busy running around and checking through the property.

"We need the key."

"Try breaking in. I've assigned someone to find the keys."

"Yes sir."

I heard the officer in charge and another man talk. Gwen had the key. But saving her was more important than opening the door.

I checked her pulse. It wasn't too late for her. I pulled her up, carrying her in my arms and got to my feet.

"Tch...I killed Ethan." Edwin spoke, still looking at the ground and then shot me a glance. He smirked proudly.

"Fucking...murderer." I cussed and carried Gwen away and out of that Mansion.

I was thankfully met with dad at the gate who'd brought along an Ambulance. He helped me put Gwen safely inside the Ambulance and asked me to go along but I insisted on staying. I pulled out the key to Ethan's room from her side- pocket and we let the ambulance head to the nearest hospital.

The moment dad and I went inside the Mansion, we heard Edwin yelling," Let me talk to her!"

The cops were holding him by his arms and trying to put him still. He was clearly drunk so he couldn't break out of the grip and just yell and ask to see Gwen.

"Listen up loser, you'll not see her again." Dad told Edwin meanwhile I handed one of the officers the key. The forensic team followed the officer to the second floor to get down to work.

"Bring her back!" Edwin yelled.

"Oh shut up. Use a taser or something and stop his yelling. What a wild goose." Dad got irritated as he was discussing something with the cops and it was getting too loud.

"Edwin, you really think she'd come back after the state you've left her in? What exactly did you do to her that she collapsed?" I asked as I walked closer to him. But something came under my shoe and I stepped back to see what it was. His ring.

"Dad." I said when I spotted the violet spot on the ring.

"What?"

"It's blood." I said, showing him the ring. We looked at each other and then at Edwin.

"He said he killed Ethan." I told the officer in charge and Dad filled in the other details.

"Well, he's in for a solid interrogation. Take him." The officer ordered.

__

Dad was dozing off on my shoulder. It had been a long night. But I couldn't fall asleep. Was Ethan seeing everything? How was he feeling? What if he'd already left us? Wasn't it the end? What would Gwen feel like when she'd wake up knowing she'd never hear Ethan again because he's left without saying a proper Goodbye?

7th December

Hospital-

I stared at her helplessly. There was no way I could help her rise from the trauma. She wasn't just sleeping. She was hiding in the dark in order to avoid the reality. She had to wake up sooner or later, and when that happened, I wanted to be the first person she'd see.

"Why are you sitting here? Don't you have school?" Dad asked as he entered the ward with a food-tray.

"I don't feel like leaving her alone." I answered.

"I know. I was just joking. Eat something. You haven't eaten since last night."

"I'm not hungry, dad."

"What prize will you get for sitting on that cold bench all night without getting a second of sleep and not even having a bite of this delicious fruit salad? Want me to shove it in your mouth?" He pushed the tray in my hands and I groaned," I haven't brushed my teeth."

"Who cares? Imagine you're living in a jungle. Would you still care to brush those goddamn teeth?" He joked.

"Tell me about Edwin. What's going on there?" I said, changing the topic to a more meaningful one.

"His dad rushed to the station last night but couldn't get him out. The interrogation will take place today at 11AM. There's not much update." He answered, chewing on the juicy apple slices,"Inform me when she wakes up. I'm heading back to get some sleep." He grabbed a few slices and exited the ward.

Edwin

What in the fucking world was I doing in a stinky cell?

The last thing I remembered was seeing a few familiar faces and cops roaming around in my house. How did they even break into the security? No, who called them?

It was so cold. I had no idea what time it was or how I was dragged into a prisoner's cell because I was too dazed. But one thing was etched in my memory.

"You killed Ethan..."

"Why the fuck did she say that?" I asked myself.

"Edwin Miler? It's time for interrogation." A man's voice came and the gate opened with a loud creak that was unpleasant to the ears.

"What interrogation?" I demanded an answer.

"Murder charges have been pressed against you. Don't you remember shit?" The man joked,"Hands in front." He pulled my wrists together and cuffed them.

.

I was pushed inside a huge room with only a table and two chairs placed in the centre.

"The Interrogating Officer will be here soon." was all I heard before the door shut behind me. I observed the near empty room and sat down. There was mold in the corners of the room and the paint was coming off the walls.

I stared down at the wooden table in front of me that was full of scratches. As if that wasn't enough to make me 'feel at home', the only light in the room started flickering.

I'm about to lose my temper.

The door flung open and a man in uniform along with a small, transparent packet entered.

"Good Morning." He greeted with a smug on his face and I glared back.

"Not a good one for you? It's alright." He said and took a seat," Let me see...hm." He scrolled through his phone while I sat there bored.

"Edwin Miler, Age 16, Charges of murder..." He spoke," Killing your own brother doesn't feel good, does it?"

"If I say-"

"No bullshit." He asserted.

"Who pressed these charges?" I questioned.

"I'm afraid I can't reveal that buddy." He shrugged.

"That little bitch or that father-son duo?" I asked.

"That girl's on the brink of death, thanks to you." He said," Now tell me honestly, kid, why did you kill him?"

"Did I ever say I killed him?" I laughed.

"You did. Last night. Very proudly."

"A statement given when drunk isn't valid." I pointed out," Besides that, what proof do you have?"

"Something you probably didn't expect." He left the transparent packet loose in the air, only holding it from the tip.

"What about it?" I asked and he gave me an amused look," Don't play dumb." He said," The DNA reports this morning confirmed that Ethan's blood is on this ring."

"Officer, if you think this is enough to send me behind bars, then dream on." I said.

"Your father's deffo loaded and he'll get you out, I know. This is once in a lifetime opportunity for me and hell, I'm letting you go." He laughed and stood up to leave, turning his back at me.

"And what if I'm not the murderer?" I asked loudly as I glared at him intently for an answer.

He turned to face me," Then you take the blame." He smirked and left.

So you want money. Ultimately, that's what you wag your tail for. That's just made my job easier.

Gwen

A white room. What am I doing here? I can't see any corners, let alone doors and windows. What place is this?

"Gwen, this way."

"Ethan?" I can't see him.

"I'm right here."

"Where? I can't see...Oh, right. I can't see you." I feel disappointed at the sudden realization that it's a mere dream and it won't change the reality. The reality that Ethan was brutally killed by Edwin.

"You can, now."

I look up, towards an unseeming end of the white void. A white figure is standing at a distance, facing me. A boy. A pretty boy. Ethan Miler.

I didn't believe that crying in dreams was possible until a tear drop fell on the floor and vanished.

I'm taking hurried steps towards Ethan and I can't believe the distance between us is nearing. I can't believe I'm going to be standing just a foot apart from him in a few seconds. Tears are falling but my lips form into a curve as I smile at him.

And now

I'm standing a foot away from him. Nothing has changed. I still reach upto his ear. He's still smiling at me kindly and I still love him.

"Thank you."

"Don't..." I speak," Don't say anything. It leads to parting. Don't say good bye."

"You helped me. I saw it all." He's looking at me without blinking.

"But you can't leave us like this!" I'm raising my voice at him.

"I know. Please thank Elijah and Mr. Cooper on my behalf...and tell Elijah to love his mom. Not everyone is blessed with one." He turned his head down.

He had lost his mother. Now, he found out his brother killed him and his father doesn't feel bothered.

"Don't say that yet..." I begged," Please don't."

"Thank you for doing all this for me."

"Are you even listening to me?" I ask. My voice is trembling now. I can't get the words out of my mouth. My throat feels heavy, like I'm being choked.

"I should leave. This isn't my home anymore." He's turned away from me.

I haven't...even started talking about my feelings yet and he's showing me his back and leaving.

"Ethan please! I- I need to tell you a lot of things." I start running towards him but suddenly, my feet are glued to the surface.

"Don't come after me. Wake up." He's walking away. And I can't move an inch.

"I...love-" I mumble to myself but pause when i hear a loud, beep sound. It's as if someone's drawing wires through my head! It's irritating. I can't bear it.

I woke up with the same throbbing chest pain. My eyes were almost falling out of the sockets. I was panting heavily. I looked around myself. It wasn't the same white room. My surroundings were different.